Educational Technology Philosophy

After working on my educational philosophy concerning technology this week, it becomes very clear that education for today's student can be so much richer than it was "back in the day", which for my students would mean in the 80s!  They have been immersed in the world of technology since they were babies.  It comes easily to them and it is something that educators should capitalize on to make their learning more meaningful to the students and relevant to their lives.  The following is what I came up with as a first draft of my philosophy:

http://www.nj.gov/education/techno/images/edtechbanner.jpg

 

 



Educational Technology Philosophy Statement

I am a firm believer in the use of technology in our educational system.  Our students have grown up, quite literally, with technology and are using it as a part of their everyday lives.  We, as educators, should channel their knowledge of the use of technology into our lessons.  In providing technology rich lessons, we show students that we value what they know how to do and what they enjoy doing.  They will then see relevance more readily in what we are trying to teach them than if it were an “old school”  lesson devoid of technology.

When I began teaching, the only technology in my classroom, other than textbooks and a whiteboard, was an overhead projector for using transparencies.  There was also a television on a cart with a VCR that we could check out through the library.  We had a computer lab that was available to us when scheduling permitted, but using the computer as part of a lesson was a novel idea for most, if not all, of the teachers on my campus.  I had just gone to a summer session from a Microsoft grant before beginning my teaching career.  It focused on Microsoft Office products and how to search the internet.  Things have certainly evolved and changed greatly since 2001. 

Today, we have interactive whiteboards, desktops, laptops, projection systems wired to our computers and DVD players with speakers in the ceiling, and document cameras all within the walls of our individual classrooms.  There are COWs (computers on wheels) as well as computer labs and computer terminals in the library so that all students have the opportunity for a technology rich learning environment.  Students are making products for classroom assignments such as book trailers, Prezis, Power Points, iMovies, and using Animoto.  How exciting technology has become in the classroom!

I feel that I am a lifelong learner and want my students to also be lifelong learners.  I try to improve my curriculum yearly as well as improve what I know and how I can more effectively reach my students.  Technology is a most effective way to allow our students to collaborate and move toward the project- based learning that is so important in today’s educational climate.  Project- based learning allows students to not only use technology but to take ownership in that use and in that learning.  Making our students WANT to learn is the ultimate goal, and using technology is a major step in accomplishing that goal.  When we appeal to their “wheelhouse”, we appeal to them.

 I plan to include a finished statement along with an educational philosophy statement on my ePortfolio.  The two are intertwined and in today's world should not exist without the other.

The link to my ePortfolio is:  https://sites.google.com/site/gwenmccluneyseportfolio/